Page 43 of Quietly Falling
I nod, thinking that nothing in New Hampshire felt like home,but Blackstone Falls does.
“Yes!” Ella cheers as Roman falls to his knees, the two of them playing up the dramatics as Ella holds her sandwich victoriously over her head. “Winner, winner, pulled pork dinner.”
“Well then, I guess it’s a good thing that this is my favorite too,” he says, hip-checking her out of the way as he moves toward the table, her yelp of surprise followed by her launching herself onto his back and him spinning around as he tries to dislodge her.
“You get used to it,” Eden says with a laugh, “but if you think this is bad, just wait till you meet everyone else.”
What have I gotten myself into?
21
ELLA
Bodhi was quiet while we ate, his gaze darting around like he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.
In his defense, Roman and I did not ease him into our chaos, butGod,I missed my cousin so much.
When Bodhi excused himself from the table after we’d eaten, I had half a mind to follow him—to see with my own eyes if he’s actually okay or just faking it for my benefit.
“So what’s up with you and Bodhi? Seriously, that guy hasn’t taken his eyes off you since we got here,” Roman asks, obviously not sharing my internal struggle.
I shrug, trying to act casual even though my heart has tripped into a sprint. “We’re just friends.”
Roman scoffs and I feel my cheeks heat. “Bullshit. That guy doesnotwant to just be friends.”
“Well, that’s what we are,” I tell my cousin even though I don’tknowwhat we are—not exactly.
Our family is alotand I don’t want him to regret coming here.
Being with me.
Or thinking he doesn’t want to be a part of this.
“For now, maybe,” Eden sasses and I glare at her.
“Don’t push it.”
“Fine, then let me stay here if you’rejust friends.”
“That has nothing to do with it. I’m just uninterested in having to make nice with whateveroh my God, Roman, you’re like so brave and we should hook up and stuff.”I do my best imitation of the exact scenario I watched unfold the last time we were both here, and he cringes.
“In my defense, that wasn’t my best decision.”
“You think?” Eden and I say in unison.
“Whatever,” he grumbles as Bodhi’s footsteps sound behind me andwowam I thankful he wasn’t here for this conversation.
Roman claps his hands together. “Well, in honor of my bad decisions I’ll learn absolutely nothing from, let’s go out for a drink,” he goads, his gaze bouncing between Bodhi and me, looking for the weakest link.
Normally, it would be me, but Bodhi looks like he’s about to crawl out of his skin at any moment. We can just stay in, and I can find out what’s bothering him. We can just?—
“Yeah, that sounds great,” Bodhi says, his response surprising the hell out of me.
“Are you sure?”
“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”
“I mean, I guess, but it was a long day and…”
